The Fullout Cheer Podcast

Every parent wants what's best for their child. But sometimes the very behaviors meant to protect athletes can actually hold them back. In Part 2 of my conversation with sports performance coach Jeff Benson, we discuss toxic parenting, emotional resilience, and why constantly solving problems for athletes may be hurting their confidence more than helping it. We also tackle one of the toughest ques...

Most coaches genuinely want what's best for their athletes. But what happens when pressure, expectations, and the desire to win begin influencing how we coach? In this episode, I sit down with sports performance coach Jeff Benson to discuss toxic coaching, emotional regulation, and the unintended ways coaches can impact athlete confidence and development. We discuss mental blocks, fear, perfection...

Are your gym's communication, policies, and leadership are helping create toxic parents? In this episode, Danielle shares her perspective as a gym owner on how parent toxicity develops, the warning signs coaches often miss, and the mistakes that unintentionally fuel drama. From parent group chats and constant questioning to poor communication and outdated policies, she breaks down what gym owners...

Every gym owner has dealt with a toxic parent. The hard part is that most of them didn't start that way. In this episode, Danielle sits down with Kristen Wheeler from the Cheer Mom Podcast to discuss how toxic parent behavior develops, the warning signs parents often miss, and what gym owners can do to prevent drama before it impacts team culture. They also discuss parent group chats, athlete advo...

Most gym owners don't lose their edge overnight. They lose it slowly. The events become less personal. The experiences become less memorable. The things that once made the gym feel special get replaced by efficiency, schedules, and simply trying to keep up. In this episode, Danielle explores why growth can sometimes pull gym owners away from the very things that made them successful in the first p...

Everybody says they want accountability. Parents want accountable coaches. Coaches want accountable athletes. But accountability feels very different when it's your athlete being corrected. In this episode, Danielle explores why accountability is one of the most misunderstood topics in cheer. We'll discuss why athletes resist it, why parents struggle with it, and why coaches often spend more time...

Every coach and gym owner has thought it at some point: “Parents are ruining cheer.” But what if the real issue isn’t parents at all? In this episode, Danielle breaks down how customer expectations, communication, and family dynamics have changed dramatically over the last decade... while many gyms are still operating with outdated systems and assumptions. From overscheduled families and last-minu...

A video of a cheer coach screaming at athletes went viral this week… and the reactions shocked us. Some people defended it. Some called it “normal.” Others said, “That’s just competitive cheer.” In this episode, Danielle Johnston and Dan Cotton break down where the line actually is between intense coaching and toxic coaching — and why so many people in the cheer industry have become desensitized t...

Most cheer gym owners think they have a sellable business. In reality… they have a job. In this episode, Danielle sits down with Matt Becker, an attorney who works closely with business brokers, to break down why so many gym sales fall apart—and what buyers are actually looking for. They dig into the biggest myths gym owners believe about selling, including: Why your gym isn’t worth what you think...

If you’ve been losing athletes this season, it’s probably not for the reason you think. In this episode, Danielle breaks down the real reasons athletes are leaving—and why most gym owners completely miss what’s actually happening. She covers: Why athletes feel stuck in their skills (and how stagnation drives them out) The difference between healthy commitment and full-blown burnout How change—both...

Most gym owners think emotional parents are the problem… they’re not. In this episode of the Full Out Cheer Podcast, Danielle sits down with Jason Larkins to break down what’s really happening when parents get frustrated, reactive, or overwhelmed—and how smart coaches handle those moments the right way. You’ll learn: Why emotional parents aren’t actually the issue How to tell if a parent wants a s...

Most routines don’t lose because of talent… they lose because of bad strategy. In Part 2, Danielle Johnston and John Barajas break down how to choose the right skills, structure your routine, and avoid the mistakes that cost teams points. As you’re building your teams and heading into choreography season, this is what you need to get right.

Ever looked at your score sheet and thought… there’s no way that’s right? In this episode, Danielle Johnston sits down with judge and choreographer John Barajas to break down how judging panels, deductions, and AccuScore actually work. If you’ve ever felt a little intimidated by the idea of challenging your scores, you need to listen to this episode!

Most gym owners are convinced their parents are “different.” More demanding. Less respectful. Impossible to manage. They’re not. In this episode, we break down the reality that parents are parents everywhere. The difference isn’t who you attract, it’s what you allow. If your families aren’t following policies, respecting boundaries, or buying into your programs, it’s not a parent problem. It’s a s...

Most athletes aren’t stuck because they lack talent—they’re stuck because of copy-paste coaching. Drill after drill of coaches searching social media to find the next great "fix" to their athlete's tumbling skills. In this episode, Danielle Johnston and Corey Rickett break down why understanding body mechanics, skill progression, and athlete mentality matters more than copying drills—and how great...

The conversation with all-star cheer judge Gabby Mauro continues in Part 2. Gabby answers more questions from coaches and parents while sharing practical advice for both groups on how to better support athletes and approach competitions with the right mindset. From understanding judging expectations to improving communication around competition results, this episode offers valuable insight for any...

What are judges actually looking for on the score sheet? In this episode of the Fullout Cheer Podcast, Danielle Johnston sits down with all-star cheer judge Gabby Mauro to answer real questions submitted by coaches and parents. Gabby breaks down how judging works, what judges notice immediately when a team hits the floor, and the most common misconceptions about scoring in all-star cheer. If you'v...

Great coaches are one of the most valuable assets in your gym — but they’re also one of the hardest things to keep. In this episode, Danielle breaks down three practical strategies gym owners can use to retain their best coaches and build a stronger staff culture. She will discuss what great coaches actually need from leadership, why many gyms accidentally push good staff away, and how small chang...

In this special crossover episode, Here 4 Cheer host Megan Gomarlo sits down with Full Out Cheer’s very own Danielle Johnston. Whether you are a veteran gym owner or just starting your entrepreneurship journey in the all-star cheerleading industry, this conversation is a masterclass in scaling your business without losing your sanity. Danielle dives deep into the proven systems every gym needs to...

If parent drama is inevitable, poor leadership is not. In Part 2, Danielle and Kelli from theory to action. They break down exactly how to reduce negativity without closing your doors — and what it really takes to create a self-policing, positive parent culture. They cover: How to educate parents before problems start and the power of consistent communication. This episode is practical, direct, an...

Parent drama. Lobby gossip. Closed practices. Open practices. Every gym owner has an opinion — and most of them are reactive. In Part 1, Danielle sits down with a parent-turned-coach to unpack what’s really happening in the lobby and why simply “closing the doors” isn’t the solution. They discuss: Why parent drama will always exist (and why that’s not the real problem) The difference between trans...

Part 2 dives into the fallout of illness and injury and adds the final challenge to the mix: Inclement weather. We talk about how to make smart decisions when routines need to change, how to simplify without panicking, and how to handle choreography changes without destroying athlete confidence. We also cover what to do when weather wipes out a full week of practices, how to keep athletes engaged...

In this episode, we talk about the reality coaches and gym owners are facing right now: constant absences due to illness, injuries piling up, and practices that never look the way they were planned. Attendance is unpredictable, routines are constantly being reworked, and keeping momentum feels harder than ever. If you’ve felt frustrated, exhausted, or like you’re constantly playing catch-up this s...

Uncommitted athletes are one of the most common frustrations in all-star cheer. Missed practices. Inconsistent effort. Big potential with uneven results. But what if the issue isn’t the athlete at all? In this episode, we break down why commitment starts long before an athlete steps on the mat and how parent education plays a critical role in developing driven, resilient, and accountable athletes....

If you’re running a gym in 2026 the same way you did a few years ago, this episode is probably going to make you uncomfortable...And we know it. In this episode, I break down five mistakes I’m already seeing gym owners make that quietly cap growth, drain profit, and create burnout at the top. These aren’t beginner errors. They’re decisions smart, experienced owners make because they feel normal, r...